Fast Rope Glove

ABSTRACT

The fast rope gloves incorporate a plurality of polymer friction pads bonded to the anterior surface of the gloves at select locations. The friction pads provide the wear surface and thermal barrier between the gloved hand and the fast rope. The friction pads include a number of differently sized pads bonded to the fingers and thumb sleeve and the palm sections of the anterior side of the gloves.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.63/088,339 filed Oct. 6, 2020, the disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference.

This invention relates generally to gloves, in particular, gloves usedfor fast roping.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Fast-roping, also known as “fast rope insertion” is a descendingtechnique using thick rope for deploying soldiers from helicopters inplaces where the helicopter itself cannot touch down. Fast roping isquicker than abseiling (rappelling), although more dangerous,particularly if the person is carrying a heavy load, because the rope isnot attached to them with a descender. The person grasps the heavy ropewith gloved hands and feet and slides down the rope without beingattached to it.

Fast roping requires heat resistant gloves to protect the individualdescending from friction-generated heat. Heat-resistant gloves aregenerally not dexterous enough to be useful after the descent has beencompleted, though specialized gloves have been developed for thispurpose. More often, a glove-inside-glove technique is used, withtactical gloves worn inside heavy leather metalworking gloves. Afterdescending the rope, the wearer removes the outer gloves to regaindexterity.

The fast rope gloves of this invention incorporate a plurality ofpolymer friction pads bonded to the anterior surface of the gloves atselect locations. The friction pads provide the wear surface and thermalbarrier between the gloved hand and the fast rope. The friction padsinclude a number of differently sized pads bonded to the fingers andthumb sleeve and the palm sections of the anterior side of the gloves.

The above described features and advantages, as well as others, willbecome more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art byreference to the following detailed description and accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention may take form in various system and methodcomponents and arrangement of system and method components. The drawingsare only for purposes of illustrating exemplary embodiments and are notto be construed as limiting the invention. The drawings illustrate thepresent invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the palm side of an exemplary glove ofthis invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of soldiers fast roping from a helicopter;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the palm side of the glove of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial side view of a soldier hand using the glove of FIG.1 gripping a fast rope;

FIG. 5 is a top view of a soldier hand using the glove of FIG. 1gripping a fast rope;

FIG. 6 is a combined top, front and side view of a friction pad mountedto the glove of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a top, front and side view of a second friction pad mounted tothe glove of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a top, front and side view of a third pad mounted to the gloveof FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments,reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof,and in which is shown by way of illustration specific preferredembodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodimentsare described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art topractice the invention, and it is understood that other embodiments maybe utilized and that logical, structural, mechanical, electrical, andchemical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scopeof the invention. To avoid detail not necessary to enable those skilledin the art to practice the invention, the description may omit certaininformation known to those skilled in the art. The following detaileddescription is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and thescope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-8 illustrate an exemplaryembodiment of the gloves of this invention, which are designatedgenerally as reference numeral 100. Gloves 100 are designed and intendedfor use by soldiers to descend from helicopters on fast ropes 10 (FIG.2). Fast ropes are thick woven ropes having a diameter approximately 40millimeters (1.6 in). The soldiers descend down the fast ropes 10gripping the rope with their hands and between their feet.

Gloves 100 are constructed from heavy fabrics and/or leather selectedfor durability and dexterity. The body of the gloves are fashioned fromcomponent parts sewn or joined together. Those component parts mayinclude tranks, digit parts, fourchettes, gussets and vents as desireddependent on the desired style and size of the gloves. Typically, thecomponent parts of the gloves are assembled and sewn together and/orotherwise fashioned using conventional methods and equipment. Gloves 100of this invention are designed and intended to be used in pairs, that isboth a glove fashioned for the wearer's right hand 100 and a glovefashioned for the wearer's left hand Not shown). It should be noted thatboth right hand and left hand gloves are symmetrical and identical instyle, construction and function.

For the purpose of illustrating and explaining this invention, glove 100can be considered as having an anterior (“palm”) side and posterior(“back”) side. The anterior or “palm” side of glove is of principalinterest to this invention. In addition, the anterior side of gloves 100can be considered as having five sections and/or parts: a distal palmarsection 110: a proximal palmar section 120, a heel/wrist section 130; athumb sleeve 140; and four finger sleeves 150, 160, 170 and 180.

The anterior side of glove 100 is covered with a plurality of frictionpads 190. Friction pads 190 are formed from a semi-rigid thermalresistance polymer. Friction pads 190 provide the wear surface andthermal barrier between the gloved hand and the fast rope. Friction pads190 are bonded to the anterior surface of gloves 100 in selectlocations. Friction pads 190 are positioned on the glove anterior tocircumferentially envelop the fast rope in the wearer's gloved hand withonly the friction pads contacting the rope (FIGS. 4 and 5). The frictionpads allow the grip to grasp the rope and selectively allow the rope toslide through the wearer's gloved hands without burning or tearing theglove material. The friction pads provide better descent control,without wear or damage to the gloves.

Friction pads 190 generally have an oval peripheral shape. Friction pads190 include a set of small pads 192, medium pads 194, and large pads196. Large pads and medium pads 194 and 196 have a generally uniformconvex cross-sectional shape along the longitudinal and lateral axis(FIGS. 7 and 8). Small pads 192 have a uniform convex cross-sectionalshape along the lateral axis and a semi-tear drop cross-sectional shapealong the longitudinal axis (FIG. 6). Friction pads 190 are affixed toanterior side of Glove 100 to generally underlie, i.e. cover, the fleshypads of the fingers, thumb and palm of the wearer's hand, where theglove would contact a grasped rope.

As shown, two small pads 192 are mounted to the pinky finger sleeve 180.Two large friction pads 196 are bonded to index finger sleeve 150. Threemedium friction pads 194 are bonded to each of the ring and middlefinger sleeves 160 and 170. Another set of four medium friction pads 194are bonded to thumb sleeve 140. Five medium friction pads 194 are bondedacross the distal palmar section 110. It should be noted that a frictionpad 190 is not affixed to the tip of index finger sleeve 150 so as tonot hinder the wearer's manipulation of any weapon controls, such as atrigger (not shown). Similarly, in certain alternatively embodiments ofGlove 100, no friction pad may be affixed to the tip of the thumb sleeve140 to allow the thumb to manipulate other weapon controls, such asillumination/laser switches and the like (not shown).

It should be apparent from the foregoing that an invention havingsignificant advantages has been provided. While the invention is shownin only a few of its forms, it is not just limited but is susceptible tovarious changes and modifications without departing from the spiritthereof. The embodiment of the present invention herein described andillustrated is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the inventionto the precise form disclosed. It is presented to explain the inventionso that others skilled in the art might utilize its teachings. Theembodiment of the present invention may be modified within the scope ofthe following claims.

I claim:
 1. A glove comprising: a main glove body having an anteriorside and a posterior side for receiving a hand there between; and aplurality of friction pads bonded at selected locations on the anteriorside, each of the plurality of friction pads is composed of a semi-rigidthermal resistance polymer to provide the wear surface and thermalbarrier for the glove.
 2. The glove of claim 1 wherein the anterior sideincludes a distal palmar section, a proximal palmar section, a thumbsleeve, a plurality of finger sleeves, the plurality of friction padsincludes a first set of pads bonded to the distal palmar section, asecond set of pads bonded to the thumb sleeve and a third set of padsbonded to the plurality of finger sleeves.
 3. The glove of claim 2wherein the plurality of finger sleeves includes a first finger sleeve,second finger sleeve, and a third finger sleeve, the third set of padsincludes a plurality of first pads bonded to the first finger sleeve, aplurality of second pads bonded to the second finger sleeve and aplurality of third pads bonded to the third finger sleeve.
 4. The gloveof claim 3 wherein the surface area of plurality of first pads aresmaller than the surface area of the plurality of second pads and theplurality of third pads, the surface area of the plurality of secondpads are smaller than the surface area of the plurality of third pads.